From the New York Times best-selling author duo Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner comes a “literally breathtaking” new sci-fi series about a death-defying mission on an alien planet. When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution humanity has been waiting for. The Undying’s advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives … environmental damage and turn lives around, and their message leads to the planet Gaia, a treasure trove waiting to be explored.
For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an ancient alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study . . . as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don’t loot everything first. Despite their opposing reasons for smuggling themselves onto the alien planet’s surface, they’re both desperate to uncover the riches hidden in the Undying temples. Beset by rival scavenger gangs, Jules and Mia form a fragile alliance . . . but both are keeping secrets that make trust nearly impossible.
As they race to decode the ancient messages, Jules and Mia must navigate the traps and trials within the Undying temples and stay one step ahead of the scavvers on their heels. They came to Gaia certain that they had far more to fear from their fellow humans than the ancient beings whose mysteries they’re trying to unravel. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more Jules and Mia start to feel like their presence in the temple is part of a grand design — one that could spell the end of the human race . . .impossible.
As they race to decode the ancient messages, Jules and Mia must navigate the traps and trials within the Undying temples and stay one step ahead of the scavvers on their heels. They came to Gaia certain that they had far more to fear from their fellow humans than the ancient beings whose mysteries they’re trying to unravel. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more Jules and Mia start to feel like their presence in the temple is part of a grand design — one that could spell the end of the human race . . .impossible.
As they race to decode the ancient messages, Jules and Mia must navigate the traps and trials within the Undying temples and stay one step ahead of the scavvers on their heels. They came to Gaia certain that they had far more to fear from their fellow humans than the ancient beings whose mysteries they’re trying to unravel. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more Jules and Mia start to feel like their presence in the temple is part of a grand design — one that could spell the end of the human race . . .impossible.
As they race to decode the ancient messages, Jules and Mia must navigate the traps and trials within the Undying temples and stay one step ahead of the scavvers on their heels. They came to Gaia certain that they had far more to fear from their fellow humans than the ancient beings whose mysteries they’re trying to unravel. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more Jules and Mia start to feel like their presence in the temple is part of a grand design — one that could spell the end of the human race . . .sign — one that could spell the end of the human race . . .
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I really enjoyed the Starbound Trilogy by this author duo, so I had to pick this one up. It was just what I needed after trying to read two failed books in a row. (Let’s not get into that.) If I had to describe this book I’d say it was Indiana Jones on a faraway planet with a great little romance and lots of surprises. The ending was quite the cliffhanger! I have pre-ordered Book 2 and I hope it’s just as fun.
A message from an alien race, a race to find and decipher artifacts from that race through a booby-trapped alien temple, dangerous artifact scavengers, and… that’s only the first leg of this race for humanity.
Unearthed was not much like I was expecting. Not that I’m complaining. There was a bit more Indiana Jones going on, lots of action/survivor elements, and some twists that all kept me riveted. For all its excitement, this was also a layered slow-burn thriller that leads to a king of a cliffhanger.
The beginning introduces an earth a little into our future that is just limping by- population restrictions, few resources to share among many, a knowledge that in only a few generations, they will be extinct. A message through a portal that leads to another world after one failed attempt to send a colony ship out seems like a godsend and people aren’t willing to look a gift horse in the mouth, save one man, and he’s ignored because he’s not telling people what they want to hear.
The story is told from two teenage perspectives. This unlikely pair of adventurers are as opposite as it gets. They are enemies and a canyon separates their ideology in many ways, but its amazing how the race for survival and survival of their race strips back the differences and leaves them surprisingly out for the same end.
Jules Addison is brilliant, highly-educated, pampered and somewhat naive, but he is convinced his scholarly father is right about the dangers of rushing in and accepting the Undying Race’s message as a no strings attached gift. Jules makes himself an authority on the Undying Race. He has a love for learning and gaining knowledge, but also a determination to prove his father right or at least finish his work to keep people safe from an unknown alien threat.
On the other side of the coin is Amelia Radcliffe, school dropout, scavenging the abandoned city desert of Chicago for her very existence, and on a mission to secure enough alien artifacts to earn her sister’s release from slavery and worse. She’s street savvy and toughened by life. She’s a pragmatist by necessity and doesn’t have the luxury of lofty reasons to be on a treasure-stealing expedition that might very well get her killed, but she’s more than she seems just as the stuck-up stuffy Oxford boy is more than he seemed to her, as well.
There is an ongoing action-adventure vibe that still manages to have some slow points. I got why the slow points are there, but I still felt the drag a little. Its the time when Jules and Mia are being tested and coming into their own in preparation for what comes afterward. There is character and relationship development going on during a desperate situation that the authors cleverly twist even tighter as the book progresses.
The twists were pretty good though I saw them coming. This didn’t make the book bore me because knowing the surprises didn’t mean I knew how Mia and Jules would get out of a dangerous corner they were backed into. I loved seeing them get out on ingenuity and not just dumb luck. Jules is really smart, but Mia is quick and clever so they worked wonderfully well.
The romance was slow build as a result of the whole enemies to lovers situation. The pair both have secrets and agendas and get into situations that make trust difficult so I was glad it was rather wary allies most of the book with hints of attraction and growing understanding.
The end left things at a very dire moment, but a good stopping point before plunging headlong into a new, thrilling situation.
This was a dual narration book with Steve West and Alex McKenna as the narrators. Both were new to me, but I thought they were a great fit for Jules and Mia and for the story as a whole. Both did accents well as well as had good command of the sizable cast of characters. They handled the emotional and dramatic moments well.
In summary, I was expecting a different story, but I was more than pleased with what I got. I am eager to see this story through and I’m fully engaged with the characters. It’s a well-drawn futuristic alien world, complex plot, and personable flawed characters. Young Adult sci-fi and/or action-adventure fans should definitely grab this up.
This was another book that attracted me by the premise alone. The idea of a archaeology adventure in space was so cool. If only it had been pulled off a little better. The mystery and intrigue was off the charts, but that was the only thing that kept me reading. I didn’t care much for either main character and found their romance so unbelievable that their decisions to keep protecting each other never sat well with me. Combine that with too much repetitive internal dialogue, and the book just crawled along. I couldn’t get to the end fast enough, and the big twist at the end was at least satisfying, but I’m not sure if I can make it through another book to find out how it all plays out.
A Wonderful Adventure…. Second book is on its way!!! I loved the characters and the world! Loved the story…. Just loved this and can’t wait to read part 2!
A literally breathtaking archaeological expedition. Spooner and Kaufman prove once again that no one does high-stakes adventure shenanigans like they do.
I enjoyed this story. In another review someone equated it to Indian Jones but I would say it was more Tomb Raider. The main characters, Mia and Jules, come together on an alien planet, one to scavenge and one to learn. They must work together to meet their respective goals. Along the way they discover a mystery better left buried.
I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
½
I’ve seen some marketing for this series in which it’s being compared to a cross between Indiana Jones and Lara Croft. I can see very slight similarities but I assure you that going into this reading experience with these expectations will likely leave you disappointed. But if you dive into Unearthed with the expectation to enjoy a YA goal-oriented, conflict-filled, adventure/fantasy originated from the minds of a winning duo of co-writers, then ding ding ding! you’ll be just fine.
I read very little from the young-adult genre anymore but Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have never failed to capture me in their outerspace concoctions so I was all over this series-starter before the marketing fail made it to my brain. Good thing for me because I ended up pretty much loving this one. In my opinion, the characters were great, the suspenseful plotline was successful, the conflict was engaging and palpable, the pro-exploration theme was inspiring, and the ending held a cliffhanger I never saw coming. The writing style in Unearthed is more traditional as it differs from the epistolary style integrated in many of Kaufman and Spooner’s other collaborations, and this was my only real disappointment (due to that pesky little thing called expectation). Regardless, it worked and at 4 1/2 stars, I will be watching my calendar for the next installment. If you enjoy the genres listed, check it out!